Vehicular sign



Dec'- 2, 1969 R. L. LQWMASTER 3,481,059.

VEHICULAR.. SIGN Filed D60. 15, 1967 United States Patent O 3,481,059 VEHICULAR SIGN Richard L. Lowmaster, Birmingham, Mich., assignor t The Mathews Company, a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 690,236 Int. Cl. G0915 3/18, 7/00 U.S. Cl. 40-10 3 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention This invention relates to an improved sign assembly for motor vehicles or the like and more particularly to a sign assembly that permits rapid interchange of the indicia by means of a relatively inexpensive construction.

In the copending application of William J. Lowrnaster entitled Sign Assembly for Motor Vehicles, Ser. No. 646,538, filed June 16, 1967, and assigned to the assignee of this application, there is disclosed a vehicular sign assembly that supports a number of signs each carrying different legend and which facilitates convenient and rapid changing of the displayed legend. In the sign assembly disclosed in that application, a fastener is provided for maintaining the signs in place and for precluding accidental loss of the signs. Although in many applications this type of construction is satisfactory, the use of the fastener adds some cost to the assembly due to its inherent cost as well as the assembly cost. In addition, if this fastener becomes damaged, the signs may become lost.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved sign assembly for a motor vehicle.

It is another object of this invention to provide a vehicular sign assembly that permits rapid interchange of the signs and which does not require a fastener to hold the signs in place.

Summary of the invention A sign assembly embodying this invention is particularly adapted for use with a motor vehicle or the like for indicating the character of goods carried by the vehicle. The sign assembly includes a supporting member that is adapted to be affixed to the vehicle, a sign carrier supported within the supporting member and at least one sign carried by the sign carrier and restrained by both the sign carrier and the supporting member. The supporting member has first and second integral outwardly extending flanges formed at opposite vertically extending edges of a backing surface that is adapted to be aflixed to the vehicle. A third integral outwardly extending flange is formed at the lowermost horizontal edge of the backing surface. First and second tabs are formed integrally with the first and second flanges, respectively, which tabs extend substantially parallel to the backing surface. The uppermost edge of the supporting member is substantially free of flanges for facilitating insertion of the sign carrier into the supporting member. The sign carrier has a rear surface juxtaposed to the backing surface of the supporting member and upper and lower flange means formed integrally with the rear surface at the upper and lower horizontal edges thereof. The lower flange of the sign carrier is supported upon the lower horizontal flange of the supporting member. First and second tabs are formed integrally with the upper and "ice lower flanges at the outer edge of these flanges. The first and second tabs of the supporting member overlie the outer sides of the first and second tabs of the sign carrier. The sign is contained within the sign carrier and is restrained from movement in a horizontal direction by the first and second flanges of the supporting member, is restrained from movement in a vertical direction by the upper and lower flanges of the sign carrier and is restrained against lateral movement by the tabs of the sign carrier and of the supporting member as well as by the rear surface of the sign carrier.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle provided with a sign assembly embodying this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of the sign assembly shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged .cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment Referring first to FIGURE l, a motor vehicle provided with a sign assembly embodying this invention is identified generally by the reference numeral 11. The vehicle 11 is of the freight transporting type and is depicted as being a highway vehicle comprised of a tractor 12 and trailer 13. A sign assembly embodying this invention is identified generally by the reference numeral 14. One or more sign assemblies 14 may be carried on the vehicle 11 and particularly upon the trailer 13. Preferably these signs are positioned in a conspicuous point on each side, the front and rear of the trailer 13 although only the former location is shown in the drawings.

Referring now to the remaining figures, the sign assembly 14 is comprised of a supporting member 15 that may be conveniently formed from sheet metal, plastic or other similar light-weight, readily formable material. The supporting member 15 has a generally rectangular backing surface 16 that is adapted to be juxtaposed to the respective surface of the vehicle 11 and which is formed with countersunk openings 17 to pass fasteners for securing the sign assembly 14 to the vehicle 11. Outwardly extending flanges 18 and 19 are formed integrally with the backing surface 16 at each of its vertically extending edges. The flanges 18 and 19 extend substantially the full height of the supporting member 15. Inwardly facing tabs 21 and 22 are formed integrally with the outer edges of the flanges 18 and 19, respectively. The tabs 21 and 22 extend parallel to the backing surface 16. A horizontally extending flange 23 is formed integrally with the backing surface 16 at its lower peripheral edge. The flange 23 has substantially the same depth as the flanges 18 and 19 and extends substantially the full distance between these flanges.

A pair of vertically disposed sign carriers 25 and 26 are supported within the supporting member 15. Like the supporting member 15, the sign carriers 25 and 26 will be formed from sheet metal, plastic or other similar materials that lend themselves to convenient fabrication. The sign carrier 25 has a rear surface 27 that is adapted to abuttingly engage the supporting member backing surface 16. A lower flange 28 extends integrally outwardly from the lower edge of the backing surface 27 and adjacent the supporting member flange 23 so that the sign carrier 25 is vertically supported upon the flange 23. An upwardly extending tab 29 is formed integrally with the outer edge of the flange 29 and extends parallel to the backing surface 27. At the upper edge of the backing surface 27 an integral upper flangle 31 extends outwardly. The outer edge of the flange 31 terminates in a downwardly extending tab 32 which is also parallel to the backing surface 27. The outermost surfaces of the tabs 29 and 32 are spaced from the outermost surface of the backing plate 27 a distance that is slightly less than the distance between the innermost surface of the tabs 21 and 22 of the supporting member and the forwardmost face of the backing surface 16 so that the sign carrier 25 may be slid into the supporting member `beneath the tabs 21 and 22 through the open upper edge of the supporting member 15. The tabs 21 and 22 overlie the opposite edges of the tabs 29 and 32 so as to trap the sign carrier 25 within the supporting member 15.

The sign carrier 26 is identical to the sign carrier 25 and has a lowermost flange 33 that is integral with a backing surface 34 of this sign carrier. An upwardly extending tab 35 is formed at the outer edge of the flange 33. The flange 33 of the sign carrier 26 is supported vertically upon the flange 31 of the sign carrier 25. An upper flange 36 is formed integrally with the upper edge of the backing surface 34 and extends outwardly therefrom. A downwardly extending tab 37 is formed integrally at the outer periphery of the flange 35. As with the lower sign carrier 25, the upper sign carrier 26 may be slid into the supporting member 15 between its backing surface 16 and the tabs 21 and 22.

A plurality of signs 38, 29 and 41 are supported within the sign carrier 25. Each of the signs 38, 39 and 41 is formed with indicia on at least one of its faces to indicate a different class of cargo which may be carried by the vehicle Il. If desired, at least one face of one of these signs 38, 39 and 41 may be blank. The signs 38, 39 and 41 are restrained against movement in a vertical direction by the flanges 28 and 31 of the sign carrier 25. These signs are also held against movement in a horizontal direction by the flanges 18 and 19 of the supporting member 15 when the sign carrier 25 is inserted into the supporting member 15. The tabs 29 and 32 coact with the rear surface 27 of the sign carrier 25 to complete the restraint of the signs 38, 39 and 41 within the sign carrier 25.

Signs 42, 43 and 44 are contained within the sign carrier 26 and are restrained within this sign carrier in the same manner as employed to restrain the signs 38, 39 and 41 within the sign carrier 25. The signs 42, 43 and 44 may carry different legend on each of their faces, which legend preferably will differ from the legend carried by the signs 38, 39 and 41.

In order to change the legend displayed by the sign assembly 14, the respective sign carrier 25 or 26 is slid from the supporting member 15 in a vertical upward direction. The appropriate sign may then be slid from beneath the respective tabs of the respective sign carrier and placed on the outermost face so that it will be exposed upon reinsertion of the sign carrier into the supporting member. This construction facilitates the displaying of two different legends, one by each of the sign carriers 25 and 26. Alternatively, the blank face previously referred to on one of the signs may be exposed from the face of one of the sign carriers 25 or 26. It has been found that the weight of the sign carriers and associated signs as well as the substantial length of the tabs 21 and 22 will preclude the sign carrier 26 from bouncing out of the supporting member 15 so that restraining fasteners need not be employed.

It should be readily apparent that the disclosed construction may Abe conveniently fabricated and requires no separate fasteners. In addition, a wide variety of legend may be displayed and the legend displayed may be readily changed. It should be also apparent that the disclosed construction could be used in connection with an arrangement where only one sign carrier is supported within the supporting member 15, but the disclosed construction permits a wider versatility in a thinner overall package.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objections above stated, it will be appreciated that this invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sign assembly for a motor vehicle or the like cornprising a supporting member having a backing surface adapted to be affixed to the vehicle, said supporting member having first and second integral outwardly extending flanges formed at opposite vertically extending edges of said backing surface, a third integral outwardly extending flange formed at the lowermost horizontal edgel of said backing surface and first and second tabs formed integrally with said first and second flanges, respectively, and extending substantially parallel to said backing surface, a sign carrier supported within said supporting member, the uppermost edge of said supporting member being substantially free of flanges for facilitating insertion of said sign carrier into said supporting member through the upper periphery thereof, said sign carrier having a rear surface juxtaposed to said backing surface of said supporting member, first flange integrally formed with said rear surface at the lower horizontal edge thereof abuttingly engaged with said third flange of said supporting member for vertical support of said sign carried by said supporting member, a first tab integrally formed at the outer edge of said first flange of said sign carrier, said first and said second tabs of said supporting member overlying the outer sides of said rst tab of said sign carrier, a second flange integrally formed with said rear surface of said sign carrier at its upper edge and opposite to said first flange and a second tab formed integrally at the outer edge of said second flange of said sign carrier, said first and second tabs of said supporting member overlying the outer sides of said second tab of said sign carrier, and at least one sign supported within said sign carrier, said first and second tabs of said sign carrier overlying the upper and lower horizontal edges of said sign7 said rst and second tabs of said supporting member overlying the respective opposite vertically extending edges of said sign, at least one vertically extending edge of said rear surface of said sign carrier being substantially free of flanges for facilitating insertion and removal of said sign from said sign carrier when said sign carrier is removed from said supporting member.

2. A sign assembled as set forth in claim 1 further including a second sign carrier substantially identical to the first mentioned sign carrier, the first flange of said second sign carrier being supported upon the second flange of said first mentioned sign carrier.

3. A sign assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein a plurality of signs are supported within the sign carrier, said signs having a stacked height no greater than the distance between the tabs of said sign carrier and its rear surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner W. I. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 40-129 

